DISNEY ON ICE – ACCESSIBLE FAMILY FUN

Our family are dedicated Disney fans, and I’m not just talking about the kids. Disney nudged it’s way into our hearts in a fairly spectacular way. I was entrenched in therapy five days a week with BJ and progress was slow. I needed something outside therapy and started entering competitions I came across in the hope of getting a little surprise in the mail one day. Our surprise came by way of a phone call from New Idea magazine to say we’d won $3000 worth of Disney products. Large boxes arrived by courier and we had so much fun unpacking them. BJ was delighted with the many versions of Mickey, Minnie and friends. The Disney toys were a motivator for therapy with BJ playing with the cars, doing various physio exercises with Mickey and Minnie by his side and learning to manipulate the push button toys over time.  As a parent it gave me great joy to see BJ’s love for the characters grow and the motivational powers they had certainly helped me with getting through all the therapy ‘homework’. As BJ grew up he started to enjoy Disney movies, of which I think we have nearly every one. The movies helped us through sickness, early morning wake ups and continue to bond us as a family when we head to the movies to enjoy the latest offering. So it seemed fitting that BJ’s first live show should be Disney on Ice. He loved every minute of seeing his favourite characters come to life. I’m sure we’re not the only family with a child with additional needs who has found Disney becomes an integral part of life.

Fast forward to AJ’s arrival and she had no choice but to be a Disney fan. The house was well and truly infiltrated by all things Disney and she formed her own special connection with Disney. At five years of age she took up ice skating and we booked tickets to her first Disney on Ice show.

At the Disney on Ice show AJ was wowed by the skaters and what they could do. She was still taking her first tentative steps but was inspired to continue her lessons to one day be a Disney on Ice skater. Her fashion also changed to reflect a budding Disney on Ice skater.

We’ve been to nearly every Disney on Ice production. After years of lessons both AJ and I now appreciate the skill of the skaters. Yes, there’s the spectacle of the costumes and music but the skaters are so talented and both of us know the level of dedication that’s required to perform the way they do. So you can imagine we were both keen to attend a Disney on Ice event where we got to meet Australian skater Nicholas Fernandez who is performing in this year’s production of Disney on Ice. He is playing Aladdin!

Nick told us that at the age of 12 he wrote on a piece of paper his desire to be a skater with Disney on Ice and now he’s celebrating six years with the cast. It was interesting to hear about the audition process and life on the road as a Disney on Ice star. Nick told us he misses having a home base, a kitchen and he finds the language barrier in some countries can be a challenge. But Nick’s eyes lit up when he told us of the joy of performing to crowds and skating as part of the show. It’s clear he loves what he does.

AJ loves skating now and it’s amazing to see how far she’s come from those first tentative steps on the ice. Take a little peek in the video below.

Of course there would be no show without Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Mickey made a guest appearance at the event we attended. He soon had AJ giggling with his antics as he compared their height. He better watch out because AJ is growing taller by the day.

Disney on Ice is celebrating 100 years of Disney magic this year with a new show touring Australia. Featuring 14 stories and over 30 songs we couldn’t wait to get our tickets. Audiences are invited to celebrate the legacy of Disney in this ice skating spectacular as Mouse-ter of Ceremonies Mickey Mouse leads a parade of characters including Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and an ensemble of Disney Princesses. Be dazzled by the magic of Disney’s Frozen with Anna, Elsa and the hilarious Olaf. Sing-a-long to over 30 of your favourite Disney songs including “Let It Go!,” “You’ve Got A Friend in Me,” and “Hakuna Matata.” Exciting moments from Disney Pixar’s Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Disney’s The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and more.  This year, Zootopia’s pals, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde will be entertaining the crowds off the ice with a pre-show so the audience won’t have time to get restless before Disney on Ice begins.

Disney on Ice is usually held in a venue with good accessible access (certainly in Sydney it is).

If you can’t attend this year’s show I highly recommend you register to be a Feld Priority Customer to receive pre-sale ticket notification and news of upcoming events – www.disneyonice.com.au/registration

When the kids were younger, going to Disney on Ice was all about seeing the characters and the magic of Disney. We still love seeing the characters but we have a far greater appreciation for the skaters and the years of work they’ve put into being the performers they are. As a parent that’s spent years sitting in the cold at a rink, I also take my hat off to their parents who have sat rink-side and funded their dreams!

We were guests at the Disney on Ice event but have self-funded our tickets to the show. Thanks to Christine from Adventure Baby for taking the video of AJ skating.

BJ admiring Minnie Mouse in amongst the prize haul.